NIGEL Farage mocked Theresa May for overusing the term "deal" during a speech in which she defended her proposed Brexit withdrawal agreement.

Theresa May defended the proposed Brexit deal during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Number 10. Nigel Farage was openly unimpressed about Mrs May's latest attempt to promote the withdrawal agreement ahead of the crucial vote scheduled for January 15. The architect of Brexit mockingly noted the constant use of the word "deal" during her speech turned the message nearly "incoherent."

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As he replayed a recording of the Prime Minister's speech on LBC, Mr Farage loudly made a note every time Mrs May before commenting: "I mean, it’s almost comical, isn't it?

"She uses the word deal 13 times in just over 30 seconds. It’s almost on the edge of being incoherent. We’ve got no leadership and this deal is an awful deal."

Mrs May has been facing increasing pressure to abandon her agreement after Brexiteers and Remainers erupted condemning key clauses of the deal – in particular, the backstop proposed to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland.

Mr Farage continued: "The latest number-crunchers down in Westminster are estimating she could lose by as much as 228 votes, which would be an all-time record for a Government losing one of its own motions.

Mrs May repeated her Withdrawal Agreement is the only one on the table and that she wants it to see getting through Parliament.

Backing her deal, which has been approved by Brussels, is the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit, she added.

The Prime Minister insisted her "unprecedented" deal gives the possibility to the UK to still have "good trading relationships with the EU but gives also the ability to strike good trade deals with countries around the world such as Japan".

Figures suggest the Prime Minister is on track for the biggest House of Commons defeat ever and the latest blow could see Mrs May accepting her deal is worthless and being left with no choice but to resign, call a general election or hold a second referendum.

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With just 78 days to go until the UK leaves the European Union, Mrs May is looking at introducing an amendment that would keep the bloc’s rules on pay and conditions, health and safety and environmental standards to win the support of Labour MPs.

The move comes as the Prime Minister suffered a fifth Commons defeat in less than a month yesterday as Parliament continued to wrestle Mrs May’s deal out of her grasp.

Remainer Sir Oliver Letwin opened negotiations with shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer last night to ask if the Labour opposition would work with the government if an agreement could be reached on staying in the customs union and single market.

Keeping the UK closer to Europe after March 29 is Labour’s policy and Sir Keir admitted interest in the proposal but indicated he backed a second referendum.

He told The Times: “Obviously, at some stage, if we are to leave other than without a deal there has to be consensus in this House for something.”

Sir Keir said there was strong support in Labour for a People’s Vote and added it “may well be inevitable” that the Prime Minister would have to delay Brexit by pleading with the EU for an Article 50 extension.